A friend of mine confessed yesterday that she “got in some hot water” for calling LinkedIn “the Rotary club of social media.”  I immediately laughed at the image because it was so spot on, but I didn’t quite see why she got in trouble for saying it.  It is kind of like an online Rotary Club.  That’s what it advertises itself to be, so what’s the issue? 

The issue was the follow-up comment.  “It’s just not sexy.”  Apparently the room was full of undercover Rotarians who were a bit miffed.  Which all leads me to finally do what I’ve been wanting to do for years now and say, “Lookit y’all.  I’m taking sexy back.” 

Postcard from Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine trilogy

The first time I heard sexy used in a questionable manner was about fifteen years ago.  I was helping prepare a communications plan for a conference.  My boss said, “Let’s not use brochures, let’s use postcards.  They’re sexy.”  The only sexy postcards I’m aware of are from Griffin and Sabine.  I am for sure they are not from a nonprofit organization offering a training event on HIV prevention. 

Without going into the weeds, I am down with sexy.  Real sexy.  Mirriam-Webster lists the number one definition of sexy as akin to erotic.  The number two definition takes a major dive with being listed as akin to simply appealing. 

This very morning I looked outside to see my husband, dressed in his professional to-the-office clothes, carrying three very large tools from our shed to his truck.  Pick ax, shovel, hoe.  He is unusually strong, and he carried these three things simultaneously and away from his body so as not to get any dirt on his suit.  He turned to blow me a kiss.  Holy mother of…..come on five o’clock is all I can say. 

I have no interest in telling anyone else what is sexy, but maybe we can all get together and give the word its meaning back.  When you mean appealing, say appealing.  When you say sexy, mean it. 

And when you use LinkedIn or go to Rotary, don’t look for thrills.  Just look for professional networking.  I think we can all be OK with that, don’t you?